Chapter 62: Unexpected Caller
Dana leaned against the railing outside of her hotel room. Her head was spinning, she was sweating, and when she leaned over, her stomach lurched, and she got sick. Her head pounded when she straightened herself up and went inside.
Collapsing on the couch, she reached for the phone, hand trembling. She dialed the number she was supposed to, and after one ring, a male voice answered.
“Is it done?”
“I delivered the message,” she murmured, her voice straining.
“Dana? Are you alright?”
“I…I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right, Mr. Travers.”
“Have you taken your dose this evening?”
“No, I was…just getting ready to, Sir.”
“Dana, it’s very important that you take it. You know that, right?”
“I…”
“If you don’t take it, those memories, all of those terrible memories will come rushing back, and who knows the kind of damage that could do? Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” she whispered, voice trembling as she rubbed her temples. “I don’t understand why Mr. Summers has to be involved.”
“Because as much tension as there is between Buffy and her father, she would never let harm come to him.”
“Maybe it’s not worth it. Maybe the baby’s not a threat.”
“The child is the product of a vampire. That is most certainly a threat. If you don’t feel as if you can complete this mission, I’ll send someone else.”
“No…I…”
“The child must be destroyed, preferably before the birth.”
“What if it’s not…I mean, what if it’s…”
“Do you really want to risk the lives of others wasting time to figure that out?”
“No. I…I know what I’m doing, Sir. It just doesn’t feel like...”
“Dana, when this is all said and done, you are free to go about your own way and never speak to me again. It’s just important that you take care of this. Buffy may be a Slayer, but she’s also about to be a mother, and she would do anything to protect her young. And now it appears that Faith is on her side. If you hadn’t tracked Faith to Sunnydale, we wouldn’t have known about this.”
“I know,” Dana muttered.
“Please Dana, I’m worried for your health. If you don’t take this medicine…there’s no telling what might happen. You could become seriously ill or…or even…”
“Ok. I’ll take it,” Dana promised. “But after this, I…I don’t think I want to be part of the council anymore.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that just yet. Just finish your task and get back to me.” The line went dead, and with uncertainty, Dana reached into a bag and pulled out a syringe and a vile. Closing her eyes, she filled the needle with Mr. Travers’ mystery cure for her ghost of a past, and injected it into her arm.
***
“Don’t even…”
“But I did.”
“Don’t say it!”
“C’mon, pet.”
“Ugh. If it means that much to you, go on. Say it.”
“I told you so.”
“Did that feel good?”
“Oh, so good.”
“Good,” she giggled. “Besides, it’s not like I was betting against you or something. Still, I wouldn’t count your chickens, Mister. There’s still a chance it’s a boy.”
“A 2% chance?”
“Still a chance, isn’t it?” She sighed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as they rode home. “Looks like we’re thinking pink now, hmm?”
“Admit it, luv. You’ve been thinking pink ever since I dubbed the bump ‘Bitty Buffy.’” Buffy cocked her head to the side and grinned at him. “What?”
“You just called my stomach ‘the bump.’
“What?”
“You did. That’s adorable,” she giggled. Spike just smirked, and keeping one hand on the wheel, reached over with his other to caress the swell of her abdomen.
“You hear that? Your mummy thinks I’m adorable.” Buffy placed her hand over his and smiled happily as she stared out the window. She closed her eyes and sighed softly. “We’re gonna have to start thinking of names.”
“Something that goes with Pratt,” Buffy agreed. “Nothing with a ‘p’.”
“Oh, so no Priscilla Pratt? No Petunia Pratt?”
“If you even think of naming out daughter Petunia, I’m filing for divorce,” she laughed. Spike chuckled and squeezed her hand.
“Pollyanna Pratt. Peggy Pratt. Princess…”
“Now you’re not even trying.”
“You got something better?”
“No ‘p’ names,” she insisted. Spike grinned and moved his hand back to the steering wheel. “And no creepy vampire names.”
“Yes, because I was thinking of naming our daughter Lestat Pratt.” He chuckled at his own rhyme.
“Hey, if it’s a boy, maybe,” she grinned. Spike shook his head
“Nope, that’s my girl in there. She knows her father’s right.”
“Well, it could be twins. We might have little Pollyanna and Lestat Pratt squirming around in there.”
“Oh, don’t even joke about that, luv. I’m still having nightmares about changing diapers. Couldn’t imagine juggling two at a time.”
“That’s why there’s two of us. One for the diaper changing and one for the pushing off of diaper changing duties onto the other one.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek and then rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t wait to see you with her. God, she’s gonna be so spoiled.” Spike was about to respond, but Buffy’s cell phone rang. She frowned and dug into her purse and retrieved it.
“Hello?”
“Buffy, it’s Dad.”
“Dad? What…”
“I don’t have time to explain. I’m on my way into Sunnydale. Can you wait up?”
“I…what’s going on?”
“Please, Buffy. I’ll explain everything. Just…” He sounded worried, and suddenly, her anger over the past few months receded a little.
“Oh…ok. I’ll be up. Are you ok?”
“Don’t worry about me. Just go home and stay there, ok?” She couldn’t speak. She’d never heard her father this frantic before. “Ok. I’m on my way home now. Just…be careful, ok?” The line went dead, and Buffy slowly put her phone back in her purse.
“What’s wrong?”
“My dad’s coming to Sunnydale.”
“What?”
“I don’t…he sounded…I don’t know, a little scared. He wants me to wait up for him.” Spike stepped on the gas a little, and Buffy took a deep breath. What the Hell was going on, and why did her father sound so frightened?
***
When they arrived back at the house, Willow and Tara and were still there, and they were eating popcorn and watching a movie with Dawn. However, as soon as the three ladies became aware of Spike and Buffy’s presence, the movie was put on pause, and they were swarming around them.
“So? Did you find out?” Dawn asked. “Boy or girl? It’s a girl isn’t it!” Buffy tried to muster up a happier smile, but with her father’s visit on her mind, it was rather pitiful. “It’s a boy, isn’t it? Well, that’s great too! I’m sure he’ll be awesome!”
“It’s a boy?” Willow asked. “Aww, I thought a little girl would be so cute. A mini-Buffy! Oh, and then she can meet a mini-Willow and a mini-Xander and…sorry. Buffy?”
“No, it’s a girl,” she smiled. “A healthy little girl who will not be named Pollyanna or Priscilla.”
“Yay!” Dawn exclaimed, hugging her sister, who returned the hug. “Oh my God. Everything’s going to be pink.”
“I thought you hated pink,” Tara pointed out.
“Well, on me, yeah, but oh, there’s nothing cuter than a baby all pinked-out. C’mon, please!” Buffy looked at Spike, who apparently wasn’t too keen on the pink idea.
“Well, you’re gonna have to get used to it sooner or later. She might be just as girly as her mom.”
“But pink? Why not purple or…”
“You like pink when I wear it,” Buffy pouted.
“Yeah, but that’s ‘cause I know I get to rip it off of you later. Bit different in that scenario.” Buffy frowned.
“Well, you’re the one that was so sure she was a girl. You should’ve prepared yourself. Time to think pink, right?” Spike sighed and gave his wife a tender kiss. He wasn’t going to complain. No way, no how. She could decorate the sodding nursery with pink fluffy kittens and frilly, lacey girly things, and he wouldn’t give a damn, because he just counted himself lucky to be able to be a part of this with the only woman he’d ever felt absolutely certain about in his love for her.
“Right then. I can see it’s no use arguing here.”
“Congratulations,” Tara offered. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Thanks Tara,” Buffy grinned. “She’s gonna be so spoiled with this guy for a dad.” She motioned toward Spike. “And with three aunts.” She looked at her sister, Willow, and Tara.
After a few minutes, Willow and Tara were heading to their new place, and Buffy turned to Dawn, as Spike saw them out.
“Dawn, we need to talk.”
“Is something wrong?” Buffy shook her head a little and led her sister into the living room. “Buffy?”
“I got a call on the way home. It was Dad.”
“What?”
“He’s heading this way. Something sounded wrong, but he wouldn’t tell me anything. Whatever it is, he’s worried enough to come here and talk to us about it face to face, so I just wanted to warn you.” Dawn’s eyes filled with fear, and she looked down, the memory of her mother telling her that she had to go to the hospital for some tests coming to mind.
“Do you…do you think he’s sick?” Buffy smoothed back her sister’s hair and leaned forward to give her a hug.
“I dunno, Dawnie, but I’m sure he’ll tell us everything when he gets here.” Dawn nodded, and she took a deep breath. “Try not to worry until we know everything, ok?”
“I’ll try.”
“You don’t have to wait up.”
“Yeah…I do. I wanna hear what he has to say.”
“Ok. Well, is your homework done?”
“Almost?”
“Go finish it up. I’ll let you know when he gets here, ok?” Dawn sighed. Like she’d be able to get any homework done now. But, to appease her sister, she nodded again.
“’Kay.” Buffy gave her another hug and watched Dawn head upstairs to her room. Spike came back in the house and joined Buffy in the living room.
“You alright, pet?”
“Yeah. Just worried about my dad. Sounds kinda strange, since he hasn’t really been worried about me. But…something tells me that maybe…maybe he had a reason for not calling.”
“Maybe,” Spike whispered, placing his hand on her knee. “Guess all we have to do is wait and see, right?” She nodded, looping her arm through his and resting her head on his shoulder. “It’ll be alright, pet.”
“Yeah. Yeah, you’re probably right.” She closed her eyes and tried to push back the nagging thoughts that this had something to do with the haunting prophecy that Voraos had spoken of. All she could do was wait and hope that it was something else entirely.
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Chapter End Notes:
So I managed to ink out another chapter before my trip. I'm leaving in about 5 minutes, so I apologize for any spelling/grammar problems, as I'm rushing out the door right now. LOL, anyway, leave me some feedback to read when I get back next week! :) Thanks!